Antibiotics won’t help because sinus issues, coughs, colds, flu and upper respiratory congestion are usually not caused by bacteria. These conditions are caused mostly by fungi and/or viruses. Antibiotics are counterproductive at best. At worst, they increase your risk for antibiotic resistant bacteria, asthma and a host of other problems, including breast cancer (easy to Google “antibiotics/breast cancer” I don’t make this stuff up).

Soooo, what do you do for the cold/flu season? First, understand that your symptoms are not due to the critters. Your symptoms from the swine flu, H1N1, Ebola or any other viruses are not from the virus but your immune system’s response to the virus. Your immune system produces chemicals (cytokines) that produce: fever, chills, aches, diarrhea, cough, runny nose, sore throat, swollen glands, malaise (feeling like crap), congestion and all the other cold/flu symptoms. Antibiotics and most OTC remedies make no sense to anyone who understands immunology. Two things make sense. One is to use a product that kills fungus and viruses. The OMG products do that. Garlic, turmeric and other BALi herbs/spices do that. Essential oils do that. Iodine does that.

The other strategy that makes sense is to strengthen your immune system. People who have problems with Ebola, flu and other viruses do so because of immune system compromise. Ebola is only 50% fatal in third world countries. What’s different about those who survive? Obviously, something humans naturally possess defeats Ebola and other viruses. One thing is hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid helps by digesting viral and fungal particles. These digested particles are taken in by immune cells called “macrophages”. Macrophages take these digested critter bits (antigens) and present them for identification to two different immune system cells, T cells and B cells. Showing the critter bits to T cells is like giving a picture of Bin Laden to a team of Navy Seals. They will seek and destroy critters that have that profile. B cells create antibodies in response to antigen exposure. Antibodies are like blood hounds. They will seek out and attach specifically to critters that match the antigen. Like blood hounds, antibodies don’t kill. They do “bark” really loudly to let the T cells know where to attack. Soooo, this makes hydrochloric acid very important as it aids in critter digestion.

Vitamin D is critical. D3 is actually a hormone that allows natural production of critter killers called “cathelicidins”. If your levels of cathelicidins are low, critters will overgrow.

Lastly, thyroid levels must be optimal. Thyroid hormone allows you to produce energy. Energy production creates heat, like in your fireplace. Critters like a cooler temp whether in your body or on the food buffet. Once temps drop in your body or the food buffet, critters start to overgrow. These are the basics, along with iodine, that allow us to survive in an environment saturated with critters.

Sinus infections are the fifth most common reason antibiotics are prescribed for adults. Unfortunately, they are of no help for most sinus infections – this according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Not only are we facilitating the growth of drug resistant bacteria by over prescribing these antibiotics – the research shows it doesn’t even provide symptom relief. Even more disturbing, the numbers show that fewer than two percent of sinus infections are bacterial. Which means the overwhelming majority of sinus infections are viral – of which antibiotics are no help.

The study used a total of 166 adults diagnosed with acute rhinosinusitis, who were randomized to either amoxicillin or placebo treatment group. Among patients with acute rhinosinusitis, a 10-day course of amoxicillin compared with placebo did not reduce symptoms at day 3 or day 10 of treatment.

Now that we know antibiotics will not help – let’s discuss what will. First, it’s important to know what actually happens to our body when we have a sinus infection. Acute sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nose, sinuses and throat, which can lead to blocked sinuses and potential infection. Therefore, keeping your nasal membranes moist is a great way to avoid and reduce sinus symptoms. Using warm water and salt you can create your own saline solution to stream through your nose. This can keep your nasal passages from drying out and clear excess mucus before it has a chance to cause congestion which can lead to infection. Read More